Kerry's investigation of terrorist financing is a true "signature achievement" August 23, 2004 10:49 AM
George Bush has criticized John Kerry for having "few signature achievements" in the Senate and being weak on terrorism. But, as David Sirota and Jon Baskin point out in the Washington Monthly, Kerry's 1988 probe into the Bank of Credit and Commerce International gives him ammunition to counter both those arguments. As part of a probe into the finances of Latin American drug cartels, Kerry eventually uncovered connections between the BCCI and numerous terrorists and other shady characters. But because prominent Washington insiders - including George W. Bush - had accounts with the bank or its joint ventures, both parties pressured Kerry to end the probe:
"But Kerry refused to back off, and his hearings began to expose the ways in which international terrorism was financed. As Kerry's subcommittee discovered, BCCI catered to many of the most notorious tyrants and thugs of the late 20th century, including Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, the heads of the Medellin cocaine cartel, and Abu Nidal, the notorious Palestinian terrorist. According to the CIA, it also did business with those who went on to lead al Qaeda."
By getting BCCI shut down in multiple countries, John Kerry helped cut off a key revenue source for terrorist groups, and he showed the willingness to do the right thing despite political pressure. His campaign should do a better job telling stories like this to the public.
- Jeff Fleischer
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This article has been made possible by the Foundation for National Progress, the Investigative Fund of Mother Jones, © 2004 The Foundation for National Progress